Exactly a month ago, we jetted off to Hong Kong to shop the famous pearl show. Jet-lagged but fueled with coffee and laughter we poured over the best pearls the world has to offer for four days straight.

We bought treasures galore and are busy dreaming up new designs!

I'm very excited to work with these natural pearls from the pteria penguin!

They were wild found, and are extremely rare!

I chose each one specifically for a one of a kind collector's piece.

Next stop was Hanoi. It was a joy to have 36 hours in this rich city, so full of life.

Probably the best moment from our short stay in Hanoi was when our office manager ran out of a temple to grab me and show me her favorite part; it was a shaft of light.... that light really seemed to like her too! #kojimagoddess

After a decade away from Ho Chi Minh City, it was so thrilling to see my friends again.

This is Co Bay, she was my neighbor so many years ago. When I showed up at her gate (unannounced after a decade), she wasn't surprised at all, and acted like I was right on time. She is a testament to prayer and clean living. This woman means SO much to me, seeing her again brought me to tears.

Laughing with old friends is the best laughter.

After all the visiting, we jumped head long into preparations for a pearl lecture and trunk show at the Circle of Love in District One, HCMC.

We were prepped for the TV cameras and thirty reporters who showed up for the show!

It was a great time, the shop was gorgeous and the reporters asked really great questions.

Click here for an article in Vietnamese about our visit to Circle of Love.

We spoke mostly about Japan Kasumi pearls. We discussed the history, integrity with which they are farmed and the value of these dear fresh water pearls from Japan.

It was our pleasure to introduce Japan Kasumi pearls to Vietnam !

Thank you Tam Mavroudis and Circle of Love for the opportunity and hospitality!

Directly following the trunk show, we jumped on another flight to Hong Kong, resumed pearl shopping, processed the shipments and then made sure to get in a bit of clothes shopping. :)

Neither these options ended up coming home with us, but the temptation was real.

A day after landing into the peace and quiet light of California, I headed up to Mendocino County for a family reunion.

This pot of gold was the perfect balance to the hectic pace of big Asian cities.

Unfortunately, the peace and calm of our state didn't last long and now we are deep into the worst fire season in California history.

We are hunkered down in the studio by day and reaching out and caring for our friends and family in need by night.

We as a company will be donating to the victims and evacuees of these fires.

The California fires are only one of the MANY disasters humanity is facing right now.

May we all BE and SEE the helpers right now!

We're home for the next couple of months prepping for our Holiday Sale which will start right around Thanksgiving and we have tonnes of pearl designs up our sleeves!